But Getting There!

The Big “C”

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” Romans 5:3.

Today, one of the strongest women I know went in for surgery to have her breasts and some lymph nodes removed. She is beautiful. She faces every challenge with great determination. She has an indescribable joy that blows me away. Her smile is the most infectious anyone has ever seen. People flock to her. She can ALWAYS be counted on. She is dedicated to serving others with a positive attitude. Her husband adores her. Her kids know her value. She is respected. Those who meet her go out of their way to show her love.

I am proud to call her sissy.

A short time ago my sister was told she had cancer. The big “C” word hits people hard because typically they assume the worst, automatically seeing it as a death sentence. Not my sister!

Of course it was a tough pill to swallow, when she first heard the news but instead of feeling the “woe is me” she instinctively thought of how to tell her children. She knew they needed to know but her heart told her to approach it differently than what she had seen others do. She was going to kick cancer’s butt and she was not only going to tell her kids that but show them as well. Cancer would not win, she would fight and she knew from the beginning that she would be the victor.

Without hesitation, my sister called doctors to schedule all the appropriate appointments. She had scans and blood work done. Then Chemo started. Most of the time all of these things take weeks, even months, to get going but no in her case. Stuff was happening fast. Typically people get sick with Chemo, not her. When all of this began she told me she visited the Chemo center and saw a room filled with sad people. She was determined to bring joy with her to hopefully spread it among-st her fellow cancer club members.

She brought her joy-filled smile!

She leaned into her faith. Surrounded herself with prayer warriors. Never gave up or gave in. She was in it to win it, for the long haul.

The Bible promises that everyone will have trials and when they come how will you handle it, with the “woe is me” attitude or with a smile on your face, joy in your heart, and the knowing determination that you will overcome? Take a look at one of my heroes, my big sissy Sheri, and run the race with endurance while a smile stretches from ear to ear.